Editor’s note: Every Saturday, NESN.com Red Sox reporter Tony Lee will look at Boston’s competition in the AL East.
Will the Orioles’ veteran imports make a difference?
The Birds were very active this offseason. They brought in 35-year-old Derrek Lee to play first base, 36-year-old Vladimir Guerrero to serve as the designated hitter, six-year veteran J.J. Hardy at shortstop, strikeout king Mark Reynolds to play third base, 32-year-old Kevin Gregg as a setup man or potential closer, and reclamation project Justin Duchscherer to fill a spot in the rotation.
That group will mix with 20-somethings Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Felix Pie, Matt Wieters and young pitchers Brian Matusz, Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta.
If any or all of the younger players take that next step, and the older crew remains productive, this could be Baltimore’s most competitive team in years. Whether the additions are enough to get out of the cellar and win more than 66 games remains to be seen.
This spring will offer a glimpse at the AL East team that very quietly may have undergone the biggest overhaul.
